A presidential temporary flight restriction (TFR) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) led to the cancellation of a highly anticipated annual event on Saturday, November 7, in Pompano Beach: the “Extravaganza” drone show.
According to the city’s website: “The federally mandated airspace restriction prohibits drone operations within the designated area, making it impossible to proceed with the highly anticipated aerial performance. » The event, which was set to celebrate its fifth anniversary, would have featured 500 illuminated drones performing a spectacular choreographed show over the Atlantic Ocean in honor of Veterans Day weekend. The city of Pompano Beach stated: “We understand how disappointing this news is for the thousands of residents and visitors who were looking forward to this spectacular event,” said the City of Pompano Beach. “Unfortunately, federal aviation restrictions are beyond the City’s control, and compliance with these important security measures is mandatory. We sincerely appreciate the community’s understanding.”
The event was canceled between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., just about two hours before the festivities were set to begin at 5:30 p.m., leaving many small families who had already arrived at the venue feeling very disappointed. This was especially true for families with infants and young children, as well as people who had reserved and paid for seats at nearby restaurants to get a better view.
Since we were on site at the end of the day, people continued to arrive around 5:00 p.m., unaware of the cancellation. We announced the cancellation of the drone show on our website www.lesoleildelafloride.com and on our social media channels as soon as we learned of it between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Also on its website, the City of Pompano Beach expressed its gratitude to Firefly Drone Shows, the businesses in the Fishing Village, and the generous sponsors, whose support made this year’s event possible. The city offers “its apologies for the inconvenience and appreciates the continued enthusiasm and support for this beloved Pompano Beach tradition.”
The event has not been rescheduled yet by the City.
For updates and additional information, please visit www.lesoleildelafloride.com or www.pompanobeachfl.gov.
Photo © www.pompanobeachfl.gov
Articles translated by DeepL.
